It's been a long time since I worked retail, but first day jitters can get to you at any type of job. It's a new, unfamiliar experience, filled with every type of personality imaginable. You'll get the hang of it in no time and soon you will be telling your first day story to the new kid in the break room.

This is a scary time for all retail workers, but it does get better when the holidays aren't making people crazy. You will still have the crazy people though, they are everywhere. Anyways, I go back to my retail job tomorrow, I am jumping right back into the fire.

I got approximately 0 hours of training. They just threw me on the sales floor, despite me NEVER having worked a day in my life and gave me tips along the way. I had the same experience when it came to the first time driving a car; no empty parking lot for me, just straight up driving on the busy streets.

Haha, speaking of the pressure that comes from first times, just two days ago, I was asked to answer the store phones for the first time. I said, "Welcome to Toys R Us" and then I face-palmed. And to make things worse, in my panicked state, I followed up that horrible line with a mumbled "errrrrr." Yes, I proceeded to slam my head into the desk.

This one time this lady asked for a couple of extra bags; she had a small purchase, enough for a small bag, but I gave her 2 medium bags. She scoffed, reached over and took around 30 bags, pulling them off the hook.

Never hesitate to let people know that you're new (if they don't pick up on it already), especially if you're having trouble. Sure, you'll get people who don't bother to hear it but for the most part people will cut you more slack than usual if they know you're just getting the hang of things.

When I first started I was nervous as all hell working the register. "What if I short someone? What if I accidentally charge too much/not enough?" Don't sweat it. After a month or so it will be second nature and you'll soon find out that the less you think about the transaction the less likely you are to make a mistake.

Lastly, don't let people try to take advantage of you, especially if they pick up on the fact that you're new (I know this kind of goes against my first point). For every good person who will cut you slack you'll have 2 or 3 trying to weasel their way into something for nothing. Without knowing every single company policy you can generally call them out, or at least inform them that you'll have to check with a manager. Always always always use management for what they're there for (help, above all, and a customer-abuse robot).

Congrats on the job, I'm sure you'll do fine. You were able to write this post coherently, which shows your intellect far exceeds many out there in the retail job market today. Kudos.

No problem! Starting retail is hard because you always think you're fucking up and going to get fired. That feeling goes away and you start to get jaded. :P. just know that people will always be assholes no matter who is helping them. It gets better! :)

From a person who spent 9 years in retail, welcome! My advice: 1. Relax. Calm is your friend, even with the most obnoxious of customers. When things get heated, let the supervisors deal with it, that's what they get paid to do. 2. Befriend the regulars. On some of your worst shifts, you can get a nice pick me up if one of them walks in the door. 3. At the end of your shift, leave your work there. Don't let the stress follow you home, unless you plan on posting it here.

It's going to be alright. Just make sure you have a way to vent anger that will eventually build up.(Toke if you do. If you don't/can't then just talk about it with someone. It helps.) And make sure your cash drawer is never short. Quickest way to get fired is to start giving away the company's money.

The mistakes will happen. Rookies and tenured employees make mistakes. Just take a deep breathe and take care of it. And learn from them so that they happen less and less.

Also, observe your co-workers. See what they do, don't do. What they say to customers, the boss, and what they do on their break. So you don't look like a noob.

Besides that, have fun. Turn work into a place you can enjoy or at least bear for 4-8 hours a day.

Ive worked about 5+ years of retail now, and let me tell you people get bat shit crazy about the stupidest things. Head Cashiers/Managers will usually side with a guest for small problems like price changes +/- $30, or just whenever someone complains enough (once had an older gentleman who bought flooring from us for a total of $3500 5 years ago, floor got ruined from a flood and he came in bitching and throwing a fit, called corporate and we ended up fully refunding him). Some of the best advice i can give is to become friends with as many people in the store as possible, because you never know when you might need help or have a hard time with a customer and co-workers will come and save the day.

Also, do not ever let what any customer says to you get you down or upset on yourself, MANY people are understanding if you just explain to them when your having a hard time that you just started (this only works for so long :P) because every person has been there before and knows how scary it can be.

The perfect example i can give is my first real retail job at the former bookstore Borders. I was a cashier, and about my first month in i had befriended a very nice black women. It was great and she taught me as much as she possibly could, but it was a week after christmas, we had some regular sales going on, a middle aged black "sassy" women came in and threw a fit because we couldnt A. honor her coupon from a week ago, and B. let her use more then 1 coupon at one time. After about 5 minutes of this women bitching me out and degrading me down, my new cashier friend walked over from the Cafe, told the women that she needs to apologize to me, and leave the store or to never come back again.

Trust me when i say things get better, and you will even eventually get contractors or "usuals" that come in and know you by name. They are usually always the nicest people and will if you ever have any types of questions about tools or projects the contractors are the best people to ask because they have experience from using the tools or products you could pass down to the customers/managers.

i like to pretend i'm on a tv show centred around me so i act like the best cashier in the world. i'm fake when its needed and genuine when its deserved. delicate balance for my overly sarcastic personality. but the dumb ones who are rude believe it.

A place to exchange stories about your bosses, employees, or those interesting customers you see daily.
* Remember that customer who yelled at you over coupons?
* Do I really have to wear this ridiculous polo shirt?
* The things you do after customers leave
Come, put your name tag on, and let's get the stress of work off of our chest.